Re “Government housing is the only solution” (May 5): The writer’s cut-to-the-chase comment on the need for government-driven affordable housing nails the issue in a way most of us don’t want to confront. We are used to housing being delivered by the marketplace.
But since that solution is not working, it’s time to recognize that dwelling spaces are a fundamental need, not a discretionary want. Needs are the purview of government, wants belong in the marketplace. The sacred cow of property rights is not serving society well when thousands can’t afford to rent or buy residential spaces.
Hard as it is, we ought to confront this reality for what it is. Profit-driven housing cannot build enough units to drive down prices in a timely manner. Other nations have better solutions to this problem, and we ought to learn from them.
Richard Greyson
San Carlos
Who decides who gets all that free housing?
Re “San Diego to pursue fourth hotel, OB apartment building to house homeless people” (May 16): Nowhere in your lengthy article do I see any information on who qualifies for this free housing. What prevents anyone from just deciding they want to spend their money on something other than rent and taking up taxpayer-funded residence in a Ramada or even an apartment? Sounds like a pretty sweet scam to me.
Susan Page
Bankers Hill
How many more hotels are going to be purchased by San Diego for the homeless people? The Ramada Inn cost for 62 people is about $290,000 for each one. How much can taxpayers afford these days to help these people?
I feel for them, but at what point is this becoming too much? At what point will our taxes become so high that we are going to make families and children suffer? Enough is enough.
Lorrie Smith
Santee
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